This is the annual report for CottonTails, registered charity, detailing how the charity performed during the previous year.
CottonTails® Rabbit and Guinea Pig Rescue Annual Report 2025
Charity Number 1078850, Established in 1993
Main Name: CottonTails®
Working Name: CottonTails® Rescue
Charitable Objects: To relieve the suffering of rabbits and other animals who are in need of care and attention in particular by providing and maintaining suitable accommodation for the reception and care of unwanted rabbits and other animals.
To advance the education of the public in the care and ownership of animals.
General
CottonTails® has continued with the Direct Rehoming Service throughout 2025 and has successfully fulfilled our aims. This service utilises our website and Facebook pages to efficiently place rabbits and guinea pigs into suitable new homes.
Whilst the service is free, some satisfied owners donate to CottonTails® in gratitude for our services. We have also continued with the neutering grant scheme. The new owner of any unneutered rabbit or single male guinea pig adopted through the Direct Rehoming Service was offered a £80 grant towards neutering and £50 towards vaccination, payable to the veterinary practice used.
The advantage of animals being rehomed directly from their owners is self-evident, enabling assistance with every animal rehome enquiry without having to address accommodation limitations. Most rabbits and guinea pigs were successfully placed in suitable new homes within a month.
I continue to respond to many emails and messages daily regarding advice on rabbit and guinea pig welfare, and the claw-clipping, grooming, and general check-up services are well used. Owners used email and Facebook messages to contact us about rehoming their pets. 52% of owners contacted via Facebook to rehome their rabbits, and 56% of guinea pig owners contacted via email to rehome their guinea pigs.
We are very pleased to have joined forces with Bristol Animal Rescue Centre (Bristol A.R.C.) to improve rabbit welfare in Bristol and the surrounding area. We will be providing funding to Bristol A.R.C. to cover the cost of neutering rabbits through Bristol A.R.C.’s outreach services. Eligible rabbit owners seeking support with neutering and vaccinating their rabbits can find out more on Bristol A.R.C.’s website here: Outreach Clinics
Rabbits
In 2025, 42 rabbits were rehomed, a 33% decrease compared to 2024. Many owners do not want to wait to find a new home for their rabbit, and want an instant result, so they choose to look elsewhere for help.
Sexes
Of our total “intake”, 45% were male, and 55% female. We have never found a bias towards either gender in all the years we have been reporting our findings, and although the difference this year is 5%, it is not statistically significant due to the lower total intake numbers.
Breeds
Of the rabbits rehomed in 2025, 43% were upright-eared, and 57% were lop-eared. This continues to indicate a trend in the popularity of the lop-eared rabbit, as this has been the pattern in recent years. We had several giant rabbits in during 2025, and a small number of dwarf breeds.
Age
For the third year running, since we started in 1993, the age category with the highest intake at 50% was 3 years or more. Next was 36% for 1-3 years, and 14% under 1 year old. The youngest rabbit rehomed was 6 months old, and the oldest was 8 years old.
Neutering Status
64% of rabbits rehomed by the Direct Rehoming Service were already neutered. This likely fits with the type of owner who uses the Direct Rehome Service, willing to wait to find the right home and motivated to ensure their pet receives the best care. CottonTails® offered a grant towards the neutering of every rabbit rehomed through the service, payable to the vet, and many owners accepted this offer, often stating that this was a big factor in deciding whether to adopt the rabbit.
Pairs versus Singles
55% of the rabbits rehomed were already in bonded pairs, compared to 45% as singles. Again, this may well be explained by the type of owner using the service, who may be more aware of the importance of most rabbits having company.
Guinea Pigs
In 2025, 39 guinea pigs and 2 degus were rehomed, a 42% decrease compared to last year.
Sexes
There were significantly more male guinea pigs than females in our intake, with 67% males and 33% females. This is no surprise, as females are generally much easier to rehome due to their ability and willingness to integrate with other females. Single males are very difficult to rehome as they need to be neutered to bond with a female (expensive and not without risk of side effects), or they are destined to live side by side with others as they rarely accept a new adult male friend unless they have grown up together. Of the 8 single males, only one was already neutered.
Breeds
As in previous years, the majority (87%) of guinea pigs rehomed were short-haired, with the remaining 13% being either long-haired or semi-long-haired. This may reflect owners’ preference for avoiding a long-haired pet that is perceived (rightly) to be more challenging to keep clean and healthy, and undoubtedly also influences an owner’s decision to put their pet up for adoption.
Age
For the first time in many years, the most common age group for rehoming was over 3 years old (41%). 1-3 years accounted for 33%, and the remaining 26% were under 1 year old. The youngest guinea pig requiring rehoming was 5 months old, and the oldest was 6 years old.
Pairs versus Singles
The majority of the guinea pigs listed in 2025 were listed as pairs or groups (79%), with 21% being singles.
ACCOUNTS
Receipts
Total income for 2025 was £3,261. PayPal and Direct Bank Payments accounted for 68% of income.
Several individuals and organisations have been invaluable to CottonTails®’s financial sustainability. I would like to give a very big thank-you to each person who helped, even in a small way, and my sincere apologies if I have accidentally omitted anyone from the list.
Organisations/groups:
ANIMAL AFFAIRS £400
CHARITIES TRUST £72
Individuals (no particular order)
J Farrell J Holmes
M Loughlin B Coe
J Arrowsmith-Brown Charlotte Smallbone
Peter Martin Adam Taylor
Debi Barry Stephanie Taylor
Pam Thompson Joe Robertson
Andrew Bowie Stranton Technologies
Elizabeth Hill Sarah Gate
Charlotte Jewell Yuan-Chen Lin
Catherine Legg J Truckle
Lexie Mowbray Emma Walkley
Jan Laughton David Brierton
J Holmes
Payments
The total expenditure for 2025 was £11,336, with individual category values shown in the chart above as percentages of total expenditure.
Total Income £3261
Total Expenditure £11,336
Loss at end of 2025 = £8,074
Our bank account remains healthy and will comfortably see us through the next year. We will continue to give generous grants towards the neutering and vaccination costs for rabbits and guinea pigs adopted through our Direct Rehoming Service, in addition to providing financial support for the Outreach work carried out by Bristol A.R.C.
Acknowledgements
CottonTails® could not continue its valuable work without the excellent support of some wonderful people who have given help in various ways. Sincere apologies for any omissions:
The Trustees for their continued support.
Francis for tolerating the inconvenience of living with an animal charity in the home.
Jon Humphrey (of “Random Precision”) for his support with issues relating to the website.
My sons Fraser and Ben for providing essential holiday cover.
You, our loyal friends, for continuing to support the charity financially and in other practical ways.